DISMANTLING SUICIDE

In 2001 the Standing Rock Sioux tribe of North Dakota didn’t know where to turn. Charles Murphy, the chairman of the tribe said, "In the words of some of our respected spiritual leaders, Standing Rock Sioux Reservation was attacked by the ‘spirit of suicide.’ As a result, we lost many of our young people which also traumatized the families and friends they left behind." Spiritual leaders, counselors, teachers and others laid the blame at high divorce rates, alcohol and drug abuse, verbal, physical and sexual abuse, gangs, and family problems.

Standing Rock Reservation lies on Lake Oahe, 34 miles south of Mandan, North Dakota. Along with the Cheyenne River Reservation, it was at the center of the "Ghost Dance Uprising" among the Lakota in 1890. It was also home to Sitting Bull, whose murder by Indian police ignited a panic that led to the Wounded Knee Massacre. While there are 10,859 enrolled members, the reservation population is 6,171. Unemployment is officially at 70 percent, but in actuality stands at 87 percent. Per capita income is about one-quarter of average income in the United States. A lack of industry and businesses keep unemployment figures high.

While tribal social agencies deliberated, one family began to pray. The American Horse family asked God for guidance and felt they were to contact a minister of the Gospel, Dr. Jay Swallow from Geary, Oklahoma.

A Southern Cheyenne/Sioux, Jay Swallow was born in 1939 in a tent on the Cheyenne and Arapaho Reservation in N. E. Oklahoma. After five years in the Navy, where he says he was "on a path of self-destruction," he came home to find his parents had received the Lord. His father, who had been completely blind since Jay was four, had been completely healed at the age of 70. Through the influence of his wife Joan, a believer in the Jesus Way, Swallow gave his heart to the Lord in 1961 and was immediately called to the ministry. For 44 years Dr. Swallow has pastored, preached, taught and prayed for Native people from the Arctic Circle to Central America. He is the spiritual warfare strategist for the Oklahoma Concert of Prayer, a member of C. Peter Wagner’s International Coalition of Apostles, and co-director of Two Rivers Training Center. As one of The Sentinel Group’s Transformations Associates, he traveled to Fiji in September 2004 as part of Fiji 2004.

Summit on Suicide

Dr. Swallow went to Standing Rock and held a summit on suicide on December 26-28, 2001. Representatives from law and order, social services, schools, churches, tribal programs, drug and alcohol treatment programs, and concerned families gathered to hear him speak. In March of 2002, Jay Swallow came back to pray and take authority over the evil forces seeking to destroy the Sioux young people. He called it "dismantling the spirit of suicide throughout every corner of the Standing Rock Reservation." The result? Charles Murphy, the tribal chairman said in a letter expressing his gratitude, dated April 23, 2003, "There has not been a suicide since."
For nearly three years this was the case. When contacted for an update, Jay Swallow said, "I am sorry to say that we have experienced the first suicide in two years and 10 months." He says he has identified the breech and is following up. Swallow is heading up a building project at Standing Rock that will serve as a base of ministry. He says, "When finished this center will be used for a multi-purpose center with the ability to host and house many teams from across the nation to develop a source of hope and salvation throughout the reservation. This is the first of its kind and I believe it will spearhead transformation on that reservation." Severe winter weather (as low as -39F) and lack of funds has halted the project for the time being. Swallow plans to return to Standing Rock soon to strategize for the spring and summer. He says, "Keep praying for this out-of-the-way reservation."

Have You Thought?

"The fields are white unto harvest" right here in North America. We don’t necessarily have to travel across the sea to find an opportunity for prayer, ministry and outreach (IJL).

Transformations Moment

According to the U. S. Center for World Mission, there are 586 Native nations in North America. At least 200 of these have not been reached with the Gospel. Over 95 percent of the 3.5 million Native Americans in the United States have not accepted the Gospel message.

By Inger J. Logelin

© 2005, The Sentinel Group Reproduction and/or distribution for non-commercial purposes is permissible providing that this document is left fully intact. Please do not modify this document in any way without prior written consent.

A Man of Honor & Conviction

In case you missed it...

From Motor Racing Outreach -- Tuesday January 25, 2005


DAVID SMITH RESIGNS from RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING, Inc.

Who is David Smith? Why is this, the lead story?

This past Monday morning, I was writing this week’s “Pit Note” concerning leadership without knowing about David Smith’s most recent decision. His commitment to live out his personal faith in Christ, even leaving the only place he wanted to be, provides the perfect illustration for this week’s message.

Last week, David Smith resigned from RCR after 25 years as a member of this team. He was a six-time all-pro jack man on Dale Earnhardt’s crew. He rose to be Crew Chief for Dale, and then became team manager. Over the past 25 years, he has performed every other duty on the team. He started with Richard Childress in 1979, being there even before Earnhardt. Not long after, he left a life filled with drugs and rebellion. His repentance of his sins, acceptance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as payment for his sins, and surrender to Jesus Christ was what changed his life. For the past 25 years, David has consistently lived out and spoken of his faith, everyday and everywhere he has traveled. He has been as comfortable telling of the power of Jesus to change lives in the NASCAR garage, as he is in the many pulpits that he has graciously given his time to fill. David and Ned Jarrett were the two men in NASCAR who always boldly shared the gospel when asked to give the pre-race invocation before MRO was even formed.

Why is he leaving? Jack Daniels Liquor will be the sponsor on one of the RCR cars. David said his decision actually was made years ago when he gave up his wayward ways to become a Christian. "I trusted the Lord with my life, and He changed it around for me," Smith said. "I went to work for Richard in 1979 and told him when I went there that I'd work for him as long as he didn't have an alcohol, dirty magazine or gambling sponsorship on his car. And, he was OK with that." He went on the say, "The absolute hardest part of this deal was to tell Richard that I was leaving after 25 years. I had a great job, the best anybody could ask for. I may never have a job as great as this again, but I'll have peace of mind from knowing that what I did was the right thing to do. That's worth more than money." Childress said that although he and Smith are on different sides of the liquor issue he still highly respects him. "I've admired David Smith for years," Childress said. "I've always said I wish I could have been as strong a man as he was many, many years ago." (Quotes from the (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) (1-21-2005)

PIT NOTE:

This week, many changes in personnel among the NASCAR teams can be found in the Daytona garages, but none were made out of conviction like David’s. None were based on a commitment made to God over a quarter of a century ago like David’s. None would be so consistent with one’s faith. Consistency in seeking more money, position or prestige would be the general reasons for changing teams.


So, while the media documents the speeds on the track, talks about the rule changes and the effect they will have on the season to come, another important element will be mostly overlooked: leadership. Teams have owners, general managers, competition directors, crew chiefs, car chiefs, engineers, department heads, etc. Many titles, many different job descriptions from team to team, but all teams seek to find a management structure that will allow their teams to work together smoothly, resulting in success on the track. Seldom is there success on the track without good leadership throughout a race team. Never is there long term, lasting success without leadership. But which player in the leadership team is the lynch pin who set everything in motion is seldom ever totally known. It is even possible that the key figure may not even have a title on the team.


The purpose of Motor Racing Outreach (MRO) is to introduce the racing community to personal faith in Christ, to growth in Christlikeness and to active involvement in the church through relationships that provide care in times of stress, knowledge of God’s word and assistance in development of leadership skills.